Author's Note: Just got a few short notes here: First of all, it's Ultra Mega Update Day today, to I will be posting as many chapters as I can throughout the day. So don't forget to check back often! Second, I need more reviews. Only getting one will not cut it and I am seriously considering slowing down the updates if I don't get more. Third, just a little shout out to any Pax Pals visiting. Forth, if you could please go to Wisteria22's profile and vote for MALAYA FINACA from DISTRICT 3 then that would make me very very happy. Fifth, I'd like to thank KellyTS and Cotix14 for putting my story on alert. :-). Also, thanks Cotix14 for reviewing every chapter. And finally, there is a poll asking you what you want next from me, and it's on my profile.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games.
Oh yeah, and the reason this is up so late was because the internet server was down, so I couldn't access the site! It got fixed, so we're okay!
Here's Chapter 6!
*2 days later*
My prep team has been talking for the past three hours. I have been sitting here for the past three hours. And I cannot escape. Instead I have been in weird formula baths, greenish facials, and quite possibly having every single hair on my body being plucked. Then before I know it, I'll be in a "cooling bath", which in fact, only makes my skin a fiery pink color. And then I have my hair cut. Have my nails become perfectly shaped. And so, so, so many other things that would never happen in a million years in District 12.
District 12... I wonder how they're doing. My family's probably at the bakery, perhaps making a loaf of bread or frosting some cookies. My Mother, probably greeting at another customer, while my Father, giving some dough one last knead before sent to rise. My brothers are probably going and learning different things, and still being asked questions about me, being the brother of the "infamous" Peeta Mellark of the 74th and 75th annual Hunger Games. It feels as if the thought of being back in District 12 comforts me and brings me out of this nightmare. Well with the exception of Katniss, everything might as well be a permanent nightmare. And I don't like nightmares.
When my prep team FINALLY leaves, I am ushered into a small room. Portia walks in, and I go up and give her a hug that seems like it will last forever. In a good way, of course, Portia lets go and gives me a warm smile that invigorates my soul. We sit down on a plush, velvet couch, then Portia presses a button and two Avoxes come out with some food. Upon further investigation, I see that what I have for lunch is some perfectly cooked pheasant with some colorful small jellies, some hearty vegetables with butter slathered on, creamy mashed potatoes with parsley, and for dessert, we dip some fruit into rich melted chocolate.
"I have a feeling that Katniss and I are going to be toned down from last year." I say between bites of the heavenly food.
"Just a tad. But not too much. We can't take any of the attention from the star crossed lovers of District 12, can we?" Portia asks, while we start dessert.
"Of course not!" I say, dipping a red cone shaped fruit dotted with seeds into the chocolate sauce. The cool texture of what Portia called a strawberry is crunchy and sweet, but also juicy. The chocolate pairs perfectly with it. We finish our dessert in silence while Portia gets me ready. First she does my hair. She added some sort of Capitol powder to make it look like ash. My entire face is covered with that stuff, too. It's almost as if… No, it can't… well, maybe…
Portia makes me close my eyes as she helps me into my suit. It feels light and airy, but also satiny and smooth. She flips on a switch, and I see myself. Near my feet there is a soft yellow-white glow, but as it progresses up my body, then it becomes more and more similar to coals burning. It has a fiery red color, and a soft orange that soon comes after, detailing so closely to the actual observation of coal burning. Finally, Portia puts on half a crown, which is identical to the one I won in last year's games. Except instead of gold, it has a heavy steel feel, and in the color black.
"Now this is very important. When you're in the chariot, then you have to make sure that you just look forward. No holding Katniss' hand. No expression. No turning and waving. Just look forward, tune everything else out, and ignore everything else. Katniss will be doing this too, so don't worry, you won't be alone." Portia says, turning off my outfit and touching up anything that she might have missed out on before.
"Katniss is probably going to be good at that…" I say, and we both share a laugh over what I had just said.
I make a quick decision to go over to the training center, and I upon arrival I see that there are almost all of the victors gathered here, tributes and mentors. Since Katniss and I haven't really met anyone, it's hard for us to socialize with anyone, because the past victors know each other so well, that it's hard for us to get to know them and catch up with everyone else. That's when I see Mags, the old lady from District 4 all alone. I walk over to her, and she greets me with a warm smile. I smile back and begin a conversation with her.
"Hi, I'm Peeta. I'm pretty sure you know that, though. You're Mags, right?" I ask.
"Yes. And I won the 10th annual Hunger Games." she replies, nodding her head as she goes.
"Wow. The 10th annual Hunger Games. That was 65 years ago. You would have been…" I ask, not forcing anything, but something that long ago definitely gets my attention.
"I was 15. And during that time, there were no Careers or anything. Everyone had an equal chance of winning. They were beginning to start up sponsoring, but it actually started to happen in the games after me. I guess I was lucky." Mags says with a hint of sadness in her voice. I can't help but feel bad for her. She had nothing like we do now, even though it was 65 years ago. She must have worked really hard in those games to survive. And now, they're doing it all again. She did sponsor, but I heard Katniss saying to Haymitch that it was because she wanted to save the younger victors, like the mad girl named Annie Cresta.
I can't bear this conversation without feeling bad, so I turn and look around for Katniss, something Effie would scold me about. Suddenly I see her with the half-naked Finnick Odair. I say a couple of goodbyes to Mags, then rush over to where Katniss is.
"What did Finnick Odair want?" I ask, pointing to him. Katniss gets real close to me and puts on a seductive face.
"He offered me a sugar cube and wanted to know all of my secrets." Katniss says in a poorly executed seductive tone.
"Ugh. Not really." I say, laughing.
"Really," she says, and I can tell she's not lying. "I'll tell you more when my skin stops crawling."
"Do you think that we'd end up like this if only one of us had won?" I question, glancing at the other Victors that Katniss and I were soon going to be thrown into an Arena with. "Just another part of the freak show?"
"Sure. Especially you." Katniss says, surprising me.
"Oh. And why especially me?" I say with a bright smile.
"Because you have a weakness for beautiful things and I don't. They'd lure you into their Capitol ways and you'd be lost entirely." Katniss says very confidently.
"Having an eye for beauty is not the same as a weakness," I point out. "Except possibly when it comes to you." The music starts playing and the District 1 tributes are out the door and smiling and waving. "Shall we?"
Katniss and I climb into the chariot and we turn our outfits on.
"Hold still," Katniss says, fixing our crowns. "Have you seen your suit turned on? We're going to be fabulous again."
"Absolutely. But Portia says we're to be very above it all. No waving or anything. Where are they, anyway?" I ask.
"I don't know. Maybe we should go ahead and switch ourselves on. We both look like burning coal, and every detail matches it perfectly. We're almost at the door when Katniss blurts out.
"Are we supposed to hold hands this year?
"I guess they left it up to us." We decided to not, because it wouldn't match. The Chariot lurches forward and cr0wd explodes with excitement and screams. There are many things thrown at us, but nor Katniss or I catch ether. We are emotionless. Unforgiving. Deadly. And the outfits match that perfectly. When we finally stop, President Snow stops and stands on the platform that has a microphone attached.
"Welcome, welcome, victors and tributes to the 3rd Quarter Quell. It is a pleasure to have you here in the Capitol. We hope you enjoy the Capitol, and prepare to survive in the games. Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor. The chariots go around the City Circle one last time, and then we're guided into the Training Center. Once the doors behind us finally close, Katniss and I take a well-needed deep breath and step off the Chariot. Portia and Cinna greet us, and help us off the Chariot. Katniss starts walking over to the District 11 tributes where Haymitch is, so I decide to tag along. Katniss whispers something in Seeder's ear, the female tribute from 11, and when Seeder whispers back, Katniss has a look of relief on her face. But suddenly, Chaff puts his good arm around Katniss' shoulder, and plops a long, slightly disturbing kiss on her lips. Finally Katniss jerks back, disgusted.
The Capitol Attendants usher us towards the elevators to our suites, so I head over to them with Katniss. Haymitch will come sometime. When we get into the elevator, a small girl throws a branch headdress behind her and walks into the elevator with us. She hits the number 7 and I immediately know who it is. It's Johanna Mason.
"Isn't my costume awful? My stylist's the biggest idiot in the Capitol. Our tributes have been trees for forty years under her. Wish I'd gotten Cinna. You look fantastic." Johanna says, and alarms go off in my head.
Girl talk. One of the only things that Katniss Everdeen bad at.
"Yeah, he's been helping me design my own clothing line. You should see what he can do with velvet." Katniss says, which isn't a bad response.
"I have. On your tour. That strapless number you wore in District 2? The deep blue one with the diamonds? So gorgeous I wanted to reach through the screen and rip it off your back." Johanna says, while she fiddles with the little zipper on her back. When Katniss doesn't reply, Johanna unzips the costume, and takes everything off, except for the green ballet flats. She's completely naked, and moves onto me.
"So how's your painting been?" Johanna asks.
"Alright. I've been doing a lot of baking lately, though." I say, resisting the urge to go and look at her body.
"What'cha been making?"
"Oh, all sorts of stuff. I like trying out different cookies and pastries, though."
"That's cool- Oh that's my floor. I gotta go. I'll see you guys later!" Johanna says, and she leaves the elevator, picking up her costume. The rest of the trip Katniss and I don't talk at all. The elevator arrives at our level, and I can't hold my thoughts.
"It's you Katniss. Can't you see?"
"What's me?" Katniss asks with a confused look on her face.
"Why they're all acting like this. Finnick with his sugar cubes and Chaff kissing you and that whole thing with Johanna stripping down." I try to sound serious but it really doesn't turn out like that. "They're playing with you because you're so… you know."
"No, I don't know." Katniss says and I know she's serious.
"It's like when you wouldn't look at me naked in the arena even though I was half dead. You're so… pure," I comment.
"I am not!" I can tell she's getting angry. "I've been practically ripping your clothes off every time there's been a camera for the last year!"
"Yeah, but… I mean for the Capitol, you're pure. For me, you're perfect. They're just teasing you." I reply, trying to calm her down.
"No, they're laughing at me and so are you!" Katniss says fighting back.
"No." I say, trying not to show my smile.
Effie and Haymitch come, so our conversation is over. But there is one thing I do know for sure.
Katniss Everdeen is very stubborn.
Author's Note: Nobody mentioned the code word! New code word: Piano! Review and check back soon, because another will be up ASAP!
FireBreadandSnares
